Liquor dispenser register



May 1o, 193s. L R BARLOW 2,116,966

LIQUOR DISPENSER REG I STER Filed July 13, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR BY mw 'A TTORNE Y May 1Q, 1938. P, BARLOW 2,116,966

LIQUOR DISPENSER REGISTER Filed Jhly 1:5, 1935 5 sheets-Sheet 2 [N VEA/TOR May l0, 1938. 1 P. BARLOW 2,116,966

LIQUOR DISPENSER REGISTER I Filed July 13, 1955 s sheets-sheet 5 im' 4 I Fig. l0

' INVENTOR BY om ,aM/J

` A TTORNEY 'UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEFicE n UQUOR nl szlllllg; REGISTER 1:71935, Sel'ill 1,207 12 Clllm. (Cl. 215-73) This invention relates to a dispenser to be used for the selling of liquor` from open bottles directly to the consumer.

In the average barroom, when a man calls for a certain type of liquor, the bartender takes a bottle from the shelf and pours the man a drink into a small or large glass, as the case may be. There is a tremendous temptation for the bartender to substitute inferior liquors for good liquors by using over and overI again a bottle orig- -inally containing good expensive liquor. Thus, the bartender may purchase an expensive brand of liquor in a bottle, empty the original contents, and then repeatedly reilll this bottle with an inferior quality of liquor, which he will palm off as the expensive brand.

Not only is the manufacturer of the good liquor defrauded and cheated out of the normal business to which he is entitled, and not only is the consumer cheated by this practice, but the United States Government is also defrauded, because in many cases the bartenderwill rell the bottle with liquor of bootleg origin on which taxes have not been paid.

The dispenser which I have invented is especially adapted to prevent this fraudulent practice.

The basis of my invention is the use of a dispensing attachment which is adapted to be applied preferably to the neck of the average liquor bottle. Once the attachment is applied to the liquor bottle, it can never be removed therefrom without the breaking of an integral portion of that bottle. In this way, it is impossible for the bartender to repeatedly rell the original bottle of an expensive brand. Once he has used the contents of that expensive brand bottle, he must destroy it. An auxiliary feature which contributes to the operation of the invention is a counter which is employed in the dispenser to count the number of bottles which are placed therein and which are broken. This counter must be operated each time the dispenser is locked onto the neck of the bottle or each time it is taken oiI the neck of the bottle, so as to record the number of cycles of locking and unlocking, and thus count the number of bottles on which the dispenser attachment has been utilized.

With this sort of a system, there is a three-way cooperation between the public, the bartender and the manufacturer of the liquor. It is the duty of the bartender to place the dispenser on each bottle of liquor dispensed. It is the duty of the consumer to watch and see that the bartender sells him liquor through the dispenser and not directly from the bottle. 'I'he manufacturer then must check on the number of bottles which he has sold the bartender as against the number of bottles counted by the dispenser. Obviously, if the dispenser shows a greater number of bottles sold or dispensed through the dispenser than were actually sold to the bartender, then the bartender has been using spurious bottles obtained. elsewhere.

A further important feature of my invention is the application to the dispenser of a one-way valve. One-way nonreiillable bottles are old in the art, but such bottles have never been commercially successful because a one-way valve or nonreilllable bottle, in order to be commercially practical, is required to be very cheap, and because it must be cheap can not be depended upon. Because my dispenser is adapted for use repeatedly on several thousands of bottles before being thrown away, it is quite obvious that some expense may be undergone in the devising of a really good one-way valve mechanism. As an auxiliary 20 feature of the one-way valve mechanism, I utilize means whereby tampering with the valve mechanism may be easily detected, and I also employ glass walls in the dispensing attachment whereby the operation of the valve may be watched 25 rather closely.

The dispensing attachment of this invention is adapted to be utilized with the bottle of my invention described in m application led on January l5, 1935, Serial No. 1,836. This particular type of bottle carries about its upper dispensing neck a rubber sleeve, which rubber sleeve is utilized for joining the dispenser of this invention to the bottle.

Before more particularly describing the mechanical features of my invention, I should like to point out rather broadly the various mechanical means which I prefer to utilize. Briefly, the dispensing attachment has a pouring spout, a one-way valve leading to that pouring spout, and a sealing gasket between the one-way valve and the bottle neck. The main body of the dispenser comprises portions hinged at one end and adapted to be brought together at the ends opposite the hinged ends and in close engaging relation to the rubber of the bottle. The two hinged portions are locked one relatively to the 'other by a cylinder lock of any usual construction. This lock is operated by a key, and as it is rotated into the fully locked position, it is deadlocked by dogging means to prevent its rearward movement to -unlock the dispenser attachment from the bottle.

These auxiliary locldng means, or dogging means, are controlled in turn by a trigger lever and are releasable when the trigger lever is moved into a predetermined position. The trigger lever and the attachment are so designed, however, that the lever may not be moved into the particular releasing position until the bottle is itself broken. Therefore, in order to remove the attachment once it is locked onto the bottle, it is necessary to break the bottle, move the trigger lever into a position formerly occupied by a portion of the body of the bottle, after which the auxiliary locking means are released to prevent a retractive movement of the locking mechanism.

Preferably, I prefer to operate my counter by the releasing movement of the mechanism, although it will be readily understood that the operation of the counter by the locking movement of the locking mechanism may be arranged when desired. Also, I could eliminate the key mechanism if I desired, and might even use a lock operated by the trigger lever, or a mere bayonet Joint between the bottle and the dispenser. The basic idea involved is the use of a dispenser which may only be removed, after applied, by the breaking of the bottle, with, preferably, the addition of means to count the bottles to which the dispenser is applied and removed.

For a clear description of my invention, I shall now refer to the drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a front view showing the attachment applied to a bottle. Fig. 2 is a side view showing the attachment applied to the same bottle. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the attachment open and ready for removal from or application to a bottle. Fig. 4 is a section through the one-way valve structure showing the valve in normal position to prevent tiie refilling of the bottle. Fig. 5 shows the valve when it is allowing an outward flow. Fig. 6 is a section through the means for locking the dispensing attachment to the bottle. Figs. 1, 8, 9a and 9b are views respectively along lines 1 1, 8 3. Sa-Sa and SI2-3b of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is an exploded view showing the locking and counter operating parts of Fig. 6 in enlarged form. Fig. 11 is a front view of the cylinder of Fig. l0. Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively side and front views of the cylinder. Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are respectively rear, sectional and front views of a locking ratchet. Figs. 17 and 18 are respectively front and side views of the locking bolt. Figs. 19 and 20 are respectively side and front views of a bushing. Fig. 21 is an elevation of a retaining pin, while Figs. 22 and 23 are respectively side and front views of the locking shaft. Figs. 24-29, in-

elusive, show the various parts of the assembly of Fig. 10.

Referring nowA more particularly to the drawings and especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, reference numeral I indicates a bottle neck to which the dispenser II is applied. 'Ihe dispenser has a pouring neck I2, a glass enclosed portion I3 through which the one-way valve may be seen, and a pair of hinged portions I4 and I5. 'I'he part I4 contains the counting mechanism, while the part I contains a cylinder lock which will be described later on. Obviously, the dispenser is locked on the bottleas shown in Fig. 1, and may be released as shown in Fig. 3 for removal. The parts .14 and have handle portions I5 and I1 whereby the dispenser may be operated and held, and there is a trigger lever 41 which is operated to release the dispenser, as will be described presently.

,As is probably best illustrated in Figs.. 2, 'l and 8, the top of the bottle I0 is covered by a rubber sleeve portion in conformance with the modiflcation of my invention described in the application previously referred to. A rubber gasket 24a in the dispenser serves as a seal, as will be readily understood. y

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, I illustrate the one-way valve by which the refilling of the bottle is impossible, the valve being particularly constructed in a way which will make it comparatively easy to detect fraudulent tampering thereof. The valve comprises essentially a stationary curved plate 22, and a movable cooperating plate 23 forced against plate 22 by a spring 24 through an abutment 25 on the movable plate 23. A glass cover plate 26, held by a series of prongs 21 Ain located relation to the walls 28 of the dispenser, is positioned so that the entry of a tool into the valve will be substantially prevented.

The valve comprises a` further stationary plate '29 and cooperable plates 30 and 3l. Actually, the liquor will be dispensed as shown in Fig. 5. It must be imagined that in that figure the weight of the liquor against plate 23 overcomes the spring 24. Of course, the spout is reversed from its position in Fig. 5 since the bottle is upside down. The liquor will flow around the plate 3| through the openings 32 in stationary plate 29, then around the plate between the valve plates 22 and 23, and then around the glass plate 28 and the holding and locating members 21. It will be observed that a strainer 33 strains the liquid before it leaves the spout I2.

The body proper of my dispenser comprises two hinged portions I4 and I5 which were already indicated generally in regard to Fig. 3. In Fig. 6, I show these two portions I4 and I5 joined by a hinge pin 35, and with all of the parts in locking relation. Since the parts of Fig. 6 are shown enlarged in Fig. 10, I shall refer to that figure and to the detail Figs. 12-29, inclusive, -for a better description of the various parts whereby the portions |4 and I5 may be locked one to the other. while causing an actuation of the counter mechanism. I will also describe the means whereby there can be no releasing of the mechanism until 'a member is moved into a position occupied by the body of the bottle so as to compel the breaking of the bottle before the dispensing attachment may be removed.

Referring now to Fig. 10, reference numeral 35 indicates a cylinder having a usual type of key plug 31 which has a pin 38 for actuating a disc 39. The disc 39 has a stud extension 39a on which is loosely mounted a locking ratchet 4l having a series of ratchet teeth 4I cooperating with a sliding pawl 42, spring pressed outwardly by spring 43 and mounted in the disc 33. Through means of the pin 44, the pawl is kept in fixed angular relation to the disc 39, as will be quite apparent. 'I'hrough means of a pin 45, a bolt member 46 is secured to the stud extension 39a, the pin 45 acting also to secure to said stud a bushing 46a on which rotates freely the trigger lever 41. The bolt 46 is T-shaped and is slotted as at 43 for cooperation with a lug 49 which is integral with a shaft for actuating the counter 50. It will be readily appreciated that rotation of the bolt 46 will act through the lug 49 to rotate the counter and this may be accomplished either upon rotation of the bolt to lock or unlock the hinged portions I4 and I5 relatively to one another.

In Figs. 9a and 9b, I illustrate the operation of the bolt 46 and its cooperation with the opening 5I in the portion I4 whereby it acts as a T bolt toio'ck the two parts together, as will be easily understood by those skilled in the art.

While rotation of the key plug 31 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 11is possible at any time, so as to lock the two portions I4 and i5 relatively to one another, unlocking rotation of the plug 31 in a clockwise direction is rendered impossible except under predetermined conditions. A predetermined condition is the movement of the trigger lever 41 to a position which it can only assume on the breaking of the bottle. This control by lever 41 is illustrated in Fig. 10 and also in Fig. 6.

The ratchet 40 has a series of four short bores 53 spaced ninety Vdegrees apart and with which cooperates the locking ,pin 54 mounted in a bore 55 in the portion i5. This locking pin 54 is controlled by a spring pressed plunger 55 carried by the trigger lever 41 and normally spring pressed outwardly by a spring 56. When the trigger lever 41 is in the position illustrated in Fig. '1, the plunger 55 will be removed from opposite the pin 54 so that a solid surface of the trigger lever` 41 will be presented to the pin 54. This will, of course, lock the pin within the ratchet 40 and will maintain that ratchet fixed. Since the pawl 42 is capable of ratcheting freely by the fixed ratchet 40 in a counter clockwise direction, it will be possible, of course. to remove the bolt 45 in a counter clockwise direction at any time to lock the dispensing attachment onto the bottle. It will be impossible, however, to move the pawl 42 in a clockwise direction unless the ratchet 40 is released from pin 54, since the pawl can only move integrally with the ratchet 40 in a clockwise direction. Obviously, pin 54 only releases the ratchet when the trigger lever is in the position of Fig. 410, and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. In the position indicated in these gures, the spring pressed plunger 55 is opposite the locking pin 54. Rotation of the ratchet 40 will force the pin 54 against the spring plunger 55, thus allowing the ratchet to rotate with the pawl 42 in an unlocking direction.

Thus, unlocking movement of the lock 31 is possible only when the trigger lever 41 is in its position of Fig. 10, which is the dotted line -position illustrated in Fig. 8, wherein the plunger 55 is opposite the pin 54 as will be clearly understood.

The various parts described with reference to Figs. '6 and 10 are all shown in detail in Figs. 13-29, inclusive.

I believe it will be helpful at this point to summarize the operation of my invention. The dispenser is attached to the bottle neck by the rotation of key plug 31 of cylinder lock 36, whereby T-bolt 4'6 is locked to the portion I4, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Regardless of the position of trigger lever 41, the pawl 42 will ratchet by the teeth of ratchet 40 to permit free rotation of the plug 31. The liquor will be dispensed and, thereafter, if the bottle is broken, the trigger lever 41 may be placed in the dotted line position of Fig. 8. In this position, pin 54 may move against plunger 55 to release ratchet 40 forrotation with pawl 42 and plug 31. This will allow rotation of T-bolt 46 to release the dispenser from the bottle neck while at the same time actuating the counter 50. Thereafter, the dispenser may be placed on a new bottle and the operations repeated.

While I have described one form of my invention, it should be` understood that the basic principle disclosed therein may be embodied in many diiferent forms of mechanical elements. Therefore, in order to obtain the protection to which I am entitled by my rather basic contribution to the art, I must depend on a relatively broad interpretation of the broad claims which I have appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a multi-part dispenser adapted to be applied to a bottle by the assembly of its parts on the neck of the bottle and to be removed therefrom when the bottle has been emptied, a counter in one part of said dispenser, key rotated means in another part of said dispenser for locking the parts of said dispenser onto said bottle, and means whereby the counter is first engaged by said key rotated means and then rotated by said means as said means lock the dispenser parts, whereby to count the number of locking and unlocking cycles thereof.

,2. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser adapted to be applied to a bottle and to be removed'therefrom when the bottle has been emptied, said dispenser having two portions hinged one to the other at one end and adapted to be brought together at the other end to hold the portions in engaging relation to the bottle neck, a lock carried by one portion and having engaging means for engaging the other portion to lock the two portions in bottle engaging relation, a counter carried by said other portion, and means whereby said counter is rst engaged by said engaging means when said portions are brought together and is then operated by said engaging means to register the number of locking and unlocking cycles.

3. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser adapted to be applied to said bottle and to be removed therefrom when the bottle has been emptied, said dispenser comprising a pair of hinged portions, a key operated lock carried by one of said portions and having a bolt, a counter carried by the other of said portions, said bolt being adapted to lock said portions one to the other in bottle engaging relation and to actuate said counter while so doing, means for dogging said bolt in locked relation to said other portion to maintain the dispenser on the bottle neck, and means movable into position to release said means only upon breakage of the bottle, whereby to prevent removal of said dispenser from a bottle neck when once applied to said neck until said bottle is broken.

4. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser adapted to be applied to a bottle and yto be removed therefrom when the bottle has been emptied, key operated means for locking said dispenser onto said bottle, detent means adapted to dog said key operated means in locking position to maintain the dispenser applied to the bottle, means movable into position to release said detent means, said means being so movable only upon breakage of a portion of the bottle, whereby to prevent removal of said dispenser from a bottle neck when once applied to said'neck until said bottle is broken.

5. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser adapted to be applied to a bottle and to be removed therefrom when the bottle has been emptied, key operated means comprising a rotatable element for locking said dispenser onto said bottle, and for releasing the dispenser for removal from the bottle, a counter secured for rotation with said rotatable element, detent means adapted to dog said key operated means in locking position to maintain the dispenser applied to the bottle, and means movable into position to release said detent means, said means being movable only upon breakage of a portion of the bottle, whereby to prevent removal of said dispenser from a bottle neck when once applied to said neck until said bottle is broken.

6. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser adapted tol be applied to a bottle and to be removed therefrom when the bottle hasv been emptied, key operated means .for locking said dispenser onto said bottle, pawl and ratchet means between said key operated means and said dispenser to control the operation oi' said key operated means, said pawl being adapted to ratchet over said ratchet upon operation of said key operated means for locking said dispenser onto said bottle, said pawl and ratchet being movable integrally upon operation of said key operated means to unlock said dispenser from said bottle, detent means adapted to prevent integral rotation of said ratchet and pawl, means movable into position to release said detent means, said means being so movable only upon breakage of a portion of the bottle, whereby to prevent removal of said dispenser from a bottle neck when once applied to said neck until said bottle is broken.

7. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser' adapted to be applied to a bottle and to beI removed therefrom when the bottle has been emptied, key operated means for locking said dispenser onto said bottle, comprising a rotatable element, a counter connected to said element for rotation thereby, pawl and ratchet means between said key operated means and said dispenser to control the operation of said key operated means, said pawl being adapted to ratchet over said ratchet upon operation of said key operated means for locking said dispenser onto said bottle, said pawl and ratchet being movable integrally upon operation of said key operated means to unlock said dispenser from said bottle, detent means adapted to prevent integral rotation of said pawl and ratchet, and means movable into position to release said -detent means, said means being so movable only upon breakage of a portion of the bottle, whereby to prevent removal of said dispenser from a bottle neck when once applied to said neck until said bottle is broken.

8. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser comprising two portions hinged at one end and adapted to be brought together at their opposite ends, a housing on each of the said opposite ends of said portions, a lock in one of said housings, a counter in the other of said housings, locking means operated by and carried by the lock adapted to engage means on the counter housing for locking s aid portions together, and means operable by said locking means while locking said portions together for actuating said counter.

A9. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, a dispenser comprising two portions hinged at one end and adapted to be brought together at their opposite ends, a housing on each of the said opposite ends oi' said portions, a lock in one of said housings, a counter in the other of said housings, rotatable locking means operated by and carried by the lock adapted to engage means on the counter housing and rotatable for locking said portions together, pawl and ratchet means for preventing reverse rotation until said locking means are rotated to full locking position, and means operable by said locking means while locking said portions together for actuating said counter.

10. Ina dispenser attachment for a bottle, locking means whereby said dispenser is locked in dispensing relation to' a bottle, deadlocking means on said dispenser adapted to deadlock said locking means against releasing said dispenser from said bottle, said deadlocking means including a lever movable into a position to release said deadlocking means only upon breaking the bottle, whereby said locking means may be released.

11. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, manually operated locking means whereby said dispenser is locked about the neck of a bottle and in dispensing relation thereto, pawl and ratchet means carried by said dispenser attachment for allowing free operation of said manually operated locking means in a direction to lock said dispenser attachment about a bottle neck, while thereafter inhibiting release movement of said means, a release mechanism for said pawl and ratchet means also carried by said dispenser, the breakage of the bottle to which said dispenser is attached being a prerequisite to the operation of said release mechanism to release said pawl and ratchet means.

12. In a dispenser attachment for a bottle, locking means whereby said dispenser islocked about the neck of a bottle and in dispensing relation thereto, deadlocking means carried by said dispenser for allowing free operation of said locking means to lock said dispenser about a bottle neck while thereafter inhibiting release movement of said locking meansa release means for said deadlocking mechanism also carried by said dispenser, the breakage of the bottle to which said dispenser is attached being a prerequisite to the operation of said release mechanism to release said deadlocking means.

LESTER P. BARLOW. 

